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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






2. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






3. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






4. Indicating speed.






5. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






6. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






7. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






8. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






9. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






10. Originally an improvised cadence by a soloist. Later it became a written out passage to display performance skills of an instrumentalist or performer.






11. A short piece originally preceded by a more substantial work - also an orchestral introduction to opera - however not lengthy enough to be considered an overture.






12. A composition written for eight instruments.






13. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






14. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






15. Where the musical themes and melodies are developed - written in sonata form.






16. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






17. A piece of music written for two vocalists or instrumentalists.






18. One of the two modes of the tonal system. The minor mode can be identified by the dark - melancholic mood.






19. A musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations.






20. A piece of music written in triple time. Also an old French dance.






21. Suite of Baroque dances.






22. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






23. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






24. The highest female voice.






25. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






26. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






27. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






28. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






29. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.






30. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






31. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






32. A lighthearted piece - written in several movements - usually as background music for a social function.






33. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






34. The principal note of a triad.






35. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






36. A canon where the melody is sung in two or more voices. After the first voice begins - the next voice starts singing after a couple of measures are played in the preceding voice. All parts repeat continuously.






37. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






38. A 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






39. An extended solo - often accompanying the vocal part of an aria.






40. A complex piece of music. Usually the first movement of the piece serving as the exposition - a development - or recapitulation.






41. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






42. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






43. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.






44. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






45. The intonation - pitch - and modulation of a composition expressing the meaning - feeling - or attitude of the music.






46. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






47. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






48. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






49. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






50. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.